Stacy Davis

Anxiety can often be attributed to feeling out of control. If you are a Type-A personality, like things organized, and control much of what is around you, then having your world turned upside down can bring on severe anxiety and panic attacks. Although you cannot control every aspect of your life and must remember that God has much better plans for you than you could have ever had, setting goals and finding ways to make them happen can open doors and give you a sense of control. A New Year does not have to feel like all the past years – everyone else is accomplishing goals while you are struggling with overwhelming anxiety. Learning how to overcome anxiety using goal-setting principles can serve you for the rest of your life. New Year Anxiety For some people, starting a New Year brings out more anxiety. They have tried to tackle big goals only to get overwhelmed and quit, or they press on while anxiety gets the better of them with full-blown panic attacks, which slow them down and result in fear. You can manage anxiety by giving yourself a sense of control over your future and feelings of accomplishment. You may have never considered how to overcome anxiety by tackling it head-on through goal-setting principles, but having a plan boosts confidence, and watching yourself accomplish goals will raise your self-esteem. Let’s make this your best year yet. Why Setting Goals Can Help Anxiety There is a difference between setting a resolution and creating goals and a plan. A resolution is a statement. For example, “This year, I am not going to eat a bite of sugar.” Although noble and health-conscious, this resolution will probably set you up for failure. It is specific, but if you have been eating added sugars [...]

One of the things we have in common is that we all need to step back from whatever is happening in our lives, close our eyes, and become lost in sleep. We all need to sleep, and being able to sleep despite turmoil in our lives is a gift the Lord gives us. That’s why David can say, I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side – Psalm 3:5-6, NIV When we sleep, it allows us to recharge ourselves and maintain our well-being physically, spiritually, and mentally. Amid all this, however, is the reality of sleep anxiety. Sleep anxiety, which is sometimes called sleep-related anxiety, is a condition that disrupts a person’s ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or get restful and quality sleep. Many people struggle with this condition, which is rooted in persistent worries, fear, and nervousness around sleep. Causes of Sleep Anxiety Sleep is a necessary part of our lives. When you don’t get enough sleep, it affects how you react to others and your capacity to engage in creative thinking. It even impacts how you feel about yourself and the world around you. As necessary as sleep is, it can be disrupted in several ways, and different factors can contribute to sleep anxiety. One of the factors that can lead to sleep anxiety is when you’re experiencing stress and feel overwhelmed by aspects of your life. If you’re undergoing significant life changes, or you’re facing a lot of work pressures, or if there’s relational or other conflict you’re dealing with in your life, that can all heighten your levels of anxiety, affecting your sleep negatively. If you have an anxiety disorder like social anxiety, that too puts [...]

Money is often a taboo topic, yet financial strain can trigger chronic anxiety in people. People suffering from anxiety linked to money are often embarrassed to admit it. They feel that admitting to a counselor that they struggle to pay their bills and put food on the table somehow makes them less worthy of mental health help. So, the cycle continues. Let’s normalize speaking freely about money issues and how they affect mental health, starting with ways to reduce anxiety surrounding money. Dealing with Anxiety Surrounding Money Anxiety can make it difficult to sleep at night, and if you struggle to keep up with the expenses, then you are familiar with those sleepless nights. Knowing it could be a debt collector, you may be well acquainted with panic attacks, heart palpitations, and trembling when the phone rings. If you are looking for ways to reduce anxiety over money, you have come to the right place. The following list delves into actions you can take today to gain control of your finances. Feeling in control, setting goals, and making headway in your finances will create a sense of accomplishment. You will have more confidence in yourself and trigger the brain’s reward center, lowering your stress level. Make budgeting your friend The first step to learning ways to reduce anxiety about money is to become aware of your monthly income and expenses. The next step is to budget your income, so you know exactly what you have to work with monthly. Dave Ramsey, the financial radio show host, recommends using a zero-based budget. To start, you list your income for the month and then assign money to each of your expenses down to the dollar. Always start with the basics, such as tithing, savings, mortgage or rent, utility bills, groceries, and [...]